Zia Yusuf has revealed one Tory seat he would have “a lot of fun” contesting amid speculation Andy Burnham could call a snap general election.
Mr Yusuf, who spoke exclusively to GB News ahead of the 2026 Reform UK Conference in Birmingham, is yet to confirm which seat he will contest amid speculation that Andy Burnham could call a snap general election.
The 39-year-old recently admitted he had put his name forward to stand in Gorton & Denton but came under fire from his Conservative critics after not being selected to contest the seat.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman responded by proudly declaring on social media that he is an electoral asset and pushing to put Nigel Farage in No10.
However, GB News had heard rumours that Mr Yusuf was searching for a seat near Mr Farage’s in Essex.
Speaking to GB News about the voters of Essex, Mr Yusuf said: “I love the people of Essex. They are deeply patriotic, very entrepreneurial, and very self-sustaining.
“They care deeply about the future of the country, are very family-orientated, and therefore I’ve always had a very strong connection there.”
Reform is already gunning to topple Kemi Badenoch in her North West Essex seat, with the Tory leader’s majority being whittled down to just 2,610 at the last general election.
Following the 2026 Local Elections, Reform UK picked up 53 out of 78 wards in Essex on May 7, including six out of eight in Braintree.
Sir James Cleverly, a former Foreign Secretary who resigned from the Shadow Cabinet to stand for London Mayor, is finding himself at risk of Reform’s rise amid local concerns about RAF Wethersfield housing hundreds of asylum seekers.
Protests have been held across the constituency since the ex-barracks first welcomed migrants in July 2023, while Mr Yusuf has instead opened the door to housing asylum seekers in Green-held seats.
When asked about potentially standing in Braintree, Mr Yusuf told GB News: “That would be a lot of fun.”
However, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman insisted his focus remains on setting out the party’s agenda ahead of the next general election.
He said: “I’m focused on communicating Reform’s message on borders, on deportations and on law and order. That’s what I’m focused on.
“I’ve got quite a lot on my plate, but in terms of a potential seat at some point, I’ll talk about that in due course.”
Mr Yusuf added: “I would like to be an MP at some point, and I’m more than willing to put myself forward for the party.
“But equally, I’m having a pretty outsized impact already, and I’ve got quite a lot on my plate at the moment, so I’m focused on that.
“I think we’re having a lot of impact in British politics. But yes, do I have some sense of where I’d like to stand and you’ll hear more about that in the coming weeks and months.”
Sir James, who was first elected as Braintree’s MP in 2015, won the seat with a reduced majority of just 3,670 at the last general election.
However, the Tory grandee categorically rejected the suggestion he was standing as London Mayor due to the electoral threat posed by Reform UK in Essex.
Speaking to The People’s Channel last weekend, the ex-Shadow Housing Secretary said: “There is zero chance Braintree will return a Reform MP.”
Reform UK is currently preparing for an early general election amid a modest bounce in the opinion polls for Labour since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister on July 20.
Pollsters have also suggested that concerns about a £5million gift from Christopher Harborne and Mr Farage’s relationship with the convicted fraudster George Cottrell have dented Reform’s momentum.
Mr Farage was dealt another blow just hours after the NEC opened when an undercover investigation into Reform UK’s donations resulted in two high-profile figures resigning pending an investigation.
However, Mr Yusuf spoke to GB News before the revelations came to light and was instead asked about his feud with leading members of the Tory Party and spats on social media.
The 39-year-old arrived at the NEC embroiled in a racism row after appearing to suggest Labour’s potential Holborn & St Pancras by-election candidate, Sagal Abdi-Wali, should not be eligible to stand because she was born in Somalia.
Mr Yusuf also got a ticking off from Mr Farage after last month claiming ex-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had “committed treason”.
Responding to criticism, Mr Yusuf told GB News: “Of course, the Tories and all of their assets in the press, of which there are many — in fact, most of the written press are basically propaganda outlets to keep the Conservative Party alive — will come after me with everything they have because I actually have principles.”
Mr Yusuf is also perhaps Reform’s most critical member when it comes to embracing Tory defectors.
He had been openly critical about Robert Jenrick before the Newark MP defected in January and was at the heart of a row which resulted in Tim Montgomerie’s party membership being suspended.
But Mr Yusufu defended his position and poured cold water on calls for Reform to do a deal with the Tories ahead of the next general election.
“When people talk about uniting the right, you’ve got to define your terms,” he said.
“The Tories imported 4.8 million people in the space of four years and changed the face of Britain.
“They’ve caused enormous damage to the lives of people who live in this country, and I don’t think Jeremy Corbyn could have pulled that off. That’s the truth.
“There’s nothing right about that person, and that’s why my position is that those who broke the country won’t be the ones to fix it.”
He added: “I look at what people have done. I don’t really care that much about what people say. I just look at what they’ve done.
“I’m involved a lot in business, right? But that’s all that matters. Anyone can say, ‘I will do X, Y and Z’ as a CEO. What matters is what you deliver.
“When I look at what the Tories delivered, it was the most devastating, unprecedented spike in immigration — both legal and illegal — in the blink of an eye that this country has ever seen, not by a little but by a country mile.
“I don’t think they should ever be forgiven. I think the people who are responsible for that would do well to just apologise and retire from public life.”
Mr Yusuf is due to address Reform UK party members at midday.